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beyond the northeast corner
Possible
Answers to Test Questions
On
the Entered Apprentice Degree
appendix B
Richard h. sands
Introduction
Some
possible answers are provided in the spirit of Speculative Freemasonry in the
hope that they may stimulate you to further thought. They are not intended to be
definitive – your answers are as good as these.
Test
Questions and Possible Answers on the entered apprentice degree
1.
What
stage of life does the Entered Apprentice represent?
Man
in his youth, physically strong and eager to be molded.
2.
What
stages of human life are symbolically represented by the degrees of
Masonry?
The
three principal stages of human life, youth, manhood and age.
3.
Of
what is the Entered Apprentice degree symbolic?
The
initial stages of instruction of man in his youth.
4.
What
are symbols and why are they important in Masonry?
Symbols
are things that represent something else. They are important as a means of
teaching fundamental truths in a way that speaks to each man individually
according to his experiences.
5.
Who
are the Patron Saints of Masonry?
Saint
John, the Baptist and Saint John, the Evangelist.
6.
Where
is a man first made a Mason? Why is this important?
In
his heart! This is important because a man must be predisposed toward Masonic
principles prior to becoming a Mason; in other words, Freemasonry takes
good men and helps them to become better.
7.
When
you knocked at the door, what spiritual promise became a reality?
Ask
and you shall receive; Seek and you shall find; Knock and it shall be opened
unto you.
8.
What
do we mean when we say a man is “Duly and truly prepared”?
It
refers to the wearing of special garments to emphasize that Masonry does not
regard any man for his worldly wealth and honors.
9.
What
does the Hoodwink symbolize?
The
hoodwink represents the ignorance of the candidate in regard to
Freemasonry.
10.
What
does the Cable-Tow represent and what is its length?
The
Cable-tow represents the constraints placed upon man in this life. Its length is
that of a man’s ability.
11.
What
is the Rite of Discalceation?
The
Rite is symbolized by the removal of shoes in an ancient tradition, and
represents your entrance onto holy ground and your sincerity in your new
endeavor.
12.
What
does your entrance into the Lodge represent?
It
represents your initiation into Masonry.
13.
How
were you received upon your entrance into the Lodge?
Upon
the point of a sharp instrument, to emphasize the seriousness of the obligation
which you are about to take.
14.
What
does the Masonic Lodge room represent?
The Lodge room represents
the world.
15.
What
is the form of a Lodge?
It
is a rectangle, an oblong square, extending from West to East.
16.
Define
the Rite of Salutation and state its significance?
The
Rite of Salutation teaches the candidate to give the proper due guard and sign,
and is symbolic of his respect for and obedience to authority.
17.
Why is the presence of the Masonic Charter or Warrant significant?
The
Charter establishes the legality of the Lodge and gives it
credibility.
18.
Define
the Rite of Circumambulation and state its significance?
The
candidate’s journey around the Altar is defined as the Rite of Circumambulation
and represents his progressive journey through life.
19.
What
is the one essential piece of furniture in the Lodge?
The
Altar. (If you answered the Volume of the Sacred Law, that would be
correct)
20.
What
is the symbolism of its location?
It
symbolizes the place that God has in Masonry and which He should have in a
person’s life.
21.
Name
the Three Great Lights in Masonry.
The
Holy Bible, Square and Compasses.
22.
What
do they represent?
The
presence of the Bible signifies that we should turn to it for guidance and
regulate our conduct according to its teachings. The square is a symbol of
morality( truthfulness and honesty) and the compasses is a symbol of restraint,
skill and knowledge.
23.
What
evidence of a candidate’s sincerity is the most visible and heard by all the
Brethren?
The
Obligation.
24.
What
parts of the Obligation are literal and what parts are symbolic?
The
ancient penalties of the obligation are symbolic; the remainder must be taken
literally.
25.
For
how long is your obligation to Freemasonry binding upon you?
For
your lifetime.
26.
If
you violate your obligation, what are the actual penalties?
Masonic
discipline includes loss of membership, either by suspension or expulsion, and
the loss of the respect of other Masons.
27.
Define
the Rite of Investiture and its significance?
The
presentation of the Masonic Apron is defined as the Rite of Investiture and
symbolizes that Freemasons are workers.
28.
Name
the Working Tools of the Entered Apprentice degree.
The twenty-four inch Gauge
and Common Gavel
29.
What
do they represent?
The
Twenty-four inch Gauge teaches us to properly divide our time, while the Gavel
teaches us to reshape our character. Because speculative Freemasonry is
concerned with building our character, the working tools represent those
spiritual values whereby man is able to reshape his
character.
30.
Define
the Rite of Destitution and its significance?
The
Rite of Destitution is the act by which a Mason realizes that he has nothing of
value on his person and sensitizes him to the fact that he is obliged to
alleviate the distress of his Masonic Brethren, if
able.
31.
What
does it symbolize?
It
symbolizes that you should willingly give aid to those who seek
it.
32.
How
is the North-east corner significant in Masonry?
The
first stone is placed in the North-east corner of a building, so placing the
candidate in the North-east corner represents the Candidate’s beginning in
Masonry.
33.
In
King Solomon’s Temple , where was the Ark of the Covenant kept?
In
the Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holy of Holies, of the Temple.
34.
Name
the immovable jewels of the Lodge and what they represent.
The
square, level and plumb; the square teaches morality; the level, equality and
the plumb, rectitude of life. They are worn by the Master, Senior and Junior
Wardens and as such they are always in the East, West and South
(immovable).
35.
Name
the movable jewels of a Lodge and what they represent.
The
movable jewels are the rough ashlar, the perfect ashlar and the trestleboard.
The rough ashlar is a stone taken from the quarry in its rude and imperfect
state in nature and represents an uneducated man, the perfect ashlar symbolizes
that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education and
represents a man educated in Masonic principles and the trestleboard reminds us
that we should endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the designs
laid down by the Supreme Architect of the universe in the Holy Scriptures, which
is our trestleboard and symbolizes perfection.
36.
Name
the Ornaments of a Lodge and what they represent?
The
Ornaments of a Lodge are the Mosaic Pavement, the Indented Tessel and the
Blazing Star. The Pavement represents the good and evil within each man, the
Tessel is the border which surrounds our life and the Blazing Star symbolizes
the presence and power of God in the life of man.
37.
What
does Jacob’s ladder represent?
The
ladder is the symbol of faith, hope and charity or
love.
38.
List
the three principal tenets of Masonry.
Brotherly
Love, Relief and Truth.
39.
Name
the four points of your entrance?
The
gutteral, the pectoral, manual and pedal.
40.
List the four cardinal virtues and what they represent.
Temperance,
Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. These represent the avoidance of excess in all
things, bravery in the face of strife, careful thought before acting and
even-handedness in dealing with others.
41.
What
is the point within a circle and why is it important in Masonry?
The
point represents an individual Brother and the circle, the limits of his
conduct. If he keeps himself so circumscribed he cannot materially
err.
42.
What
do Chalk, Charcoal and Clay represent?
They
are symbols of the need for zealous dedication to principles; the inevitability
of death and the return of our bodies to the earth.
43.
What
are cowans and eavesdroppers?
A
cowan is an imposter posing as a Mason and an eavesdropper is attempting to
learn our secrets.
44.
Summarize
at least three important messages in the charge.
1)
Masons are obligated to support the government under which they live. 2)
Prejudice and intolerance have no place in Freemasonry. 3) A Mason does not deem
himself superior to others. 5) A Mason will always show religious, racial and
social tolerance.
45.
How
is the gavel used to signal members in the Lodge room?
One
rap calls the body to order or seats it, two raps calls up the officers and
three raps calls up the entire body.
46.
When
the Master calls upon you in Lodge, what should you do?
Stand,
face the East, give the sign (some jurisdictions require the due guard also) and
respond to the Master. Before being reseated, again give the
sign.
47.
When
prayer is given in Lodge, how do we act?
We
bow our heads in reverence.
48.
What
words are spoken by the Brethren after prayer, and what do they
mean?
“So mote it be!”, which
means “So may it ever be!”
49.
What
are the rights of an Entered Apprentice?
The
right to be instructed in the work, the right to visit and sit in any Entered
Apprentice Lodge and the right to be buried with Masonic
honors.
50.
Name
some responsibilities of an Entered Apprentice Mason.
To
keep secret the signs, tokens and words and the verbatim ritual, to conduct
himself with decorum and to try to learn as much as possible about
Freemasonry.
51.
List
the secrets of the Entered Apprentice degree.
The
signs (due guard and sign), token (handshake) and word (name of the grip) and
the verbatim ritual.
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